Many believers start their year off by doing a Fast as a way to dedicate their year to The Lord. It’s a way to say, “God. Here is my year. Do with it what you will; I give it to You!”
If you are one of those people in the midst of deciding what kind of Fast you would like to do, here are some informative notes that will help you understand some basic principles of how to Fast successfully.
Remember, there is a difference in preparing for various Fasts i.e.. a Water Fast vs. a Daniel Fast, or a 10 Day Fast vs. a 21 Day…etc. The information below is simply a guideline to illustrate what Fasting is and what it can do for your spiritual health!
Set A Goal
Why are you Fasting? Is it for guidance and direction, for healing, for the resolution of problems, for special grace to handle a difficult situation? For the salvation of loved ones? Provision?
Ask the Holy Spirit for a clear purpose before you Fast. This will enable you to pray more specifically, strategically and keep your eyes on your goal.
Fasting worked for Esther, Daniel, and even our Lord Jesus, but PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT FASTNG IS NOT A “GET ONE FREE” LOTTO TICKET TO MAKE GOD DO WHAT YOU WANT. It is simply a time for you to do James 4:8 … “Draw Near To God and He Will Draw Near To You.”
Commit
Pray about the kind of Fast you should undertake…
Jesus wanted us to Fast (Matthew 9:14,15). For Him it was a matter of WHEN believers would Fast, not IF…
Consider:
How long you will Fast – one meal, one day, a week, several weeks, forty days (Beginners should start slowly, building up to longer Fasts).
The type of Fast (water only or water and juices) and how often you will fast
What physical or social activities you will restrict
How much time each day you will devote to Prayer and God’s Word
Making commitments ahead of time helps you stay the course when you feel hungry and begin to wonder if God called you on the Fast at all.
Prepare Your Spirit
The very foundation of Fasting and Prayer is repentance. Unconfessed sin will hinder your prayers. So, to prepare your heart:
Confess your sins to the Holy Spirit and accept His forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
Seek forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4).
Make restitution as the Holy Spirit leads you.
Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit.
Stay in an attitude of Worship.
Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master; commit to stand strong against your worldly nature (Romans 12:1,2).
Begin your time of Fasting and Prayer with an expectant heart (Hebrews 11:6).
But, DO NOT underestimate spiritual opposition.
Prepare Your Body
Fasting requires reasonable precautions. If you take prescription medication for an ongoing ailment, you may need to consult a physician. Some people should never Fast without a Doctor’s supervision.
Physical preparation is a tremendous help once your eating routine changes; it will ease the transition a bit so that you can spend less time thinking of that Burger King Whopper and more time on Jesus.
Do not rush into your Fast. (aka make sure God called you to it).
Prepare your body. Before starting, eat smaller meals and avoid high-fat and sugary foods.
Aim to eat raw fruits and vegetables for two days before starting a longer more stringent Fast.
Here are some helpful suggestions to consider to begin your Fast successfully:
Limit your activity; exercise only moderately.
Rest often.
Prepare for temporary mental discomforts…i.e. impatience, crankiness, and anxiety…etc.
Expect some physical discomforts, especially on the second day. You may feel hunger pains, get a bit dizzy or have the “blahs.” Also, withdrawal from caffeine and sugar may cause headaches, but remember, this too shall pass.
Watch out for physical annoyances such as weakness or sleeplessness.
The first two or three days are usually the most difficult. But, you will most likely also experience a sense of well-being both physically and spiritually.
Gradually End
Generally after a water/juice Fast of 7 days or longer, you should begin to eat raw fruits and vegetables and then regular meals gradually. If you are completing a water or juice fast, do not eat solid foods immediately following your Fast. *Suddenly reintroducing solid food to your digestive tract, may have negative consequences.
If you end a more difficult Fast gradually, the beneficial physical and spiritual effects will result in ongoing good health.
The Results
Fasting is NOT A MEANS TO MANIPULATE GOD, but it is a way for Him to know that you mean business!
If you use your Fasting time wisely, you can move mountains in your life- emotionally, mentally, physically, economically, culturally, and spiritually. If you consistently meditate on God’s Word, I know that you will experience a heightened awareness of His Presence and His Joy (Psalm 16:11) And The Lord will begin to give you fresh, NEW ideas and WITTY inventions for your year.
Your confidence in God will be strengthened. You will feel mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed. And you will begin to see God’s hand touch the circumstances you targeted in Fasted Prayer. Remember, Fasting is by no means a way to MAKE God move; it is simply a way to come humbly to Him, rest in His Presence, and make your REQUESTS known to Him.
May God’s Favor be on you and your family this year for His Glory!
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